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Quantification of fat-soluble vitamins in human breast milk by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Kamao M, Tsugawa N, Suhara Y, Wada A, Mori T, Murata K, Nishino R, Ukita T, Uenishi K, Tanaka K, Okano T

Department of Hygienic Sciences, Kobe Pharmaceutical University, 4-19-1 Motoyamakita-machi, Higasihnada-ku, Kobe 658-8558, Japan.

Sensitive quantification method for fat-soluble vitamins in human breast milk by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was developed. Vitamins A, D and E were extracted from 10.0 mL of breast milk after saponifying by basic condition. Vitamin K derivatives were extracted from 3.0 mL of breast milk after lipase treatment. The corresponding stable isotope-labeled compounds were used as internal standards. For the determination of vitamin D compounds, derivatization with a Cookson-type reagent was performed. All fat-soluble vitamins were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in the positive ion mode. The detection limits of all analytes were 1-250 pg per 50 microL. The recoveries of fat-soluble vitamins were 91-105%. Inter-assay CV values of each vitamin were 1.9-11.9%. The mean concentrations of retinol, vitamin D3, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, alpha-tocopherol, phylloquinone and menaquinone-4 were 0.455 microg/mL, 0.088 ng/mL, 0.081 ng/mL, 5.087 microg/mL, 3.771 ng/mL, and 1.795 ng/mL, respectively (n=82). This method makes possible to determine fat-soluble vitamins with a wide range of polarities in human breast milk. The assay may be useful for large-scale studies.

Published 12 November 2007 in J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci, 859(2): 192-200.
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